Haemophilus Influenzae Infection

Introduction

Haemophilus influenzae is a species of bacteria that can cause many kinds of infections. These can range from mild ear infections to severe diseases, like bloodstream infections. Haemophilus influenzae bacteria most often cause pneumonia, a lung infection.

Epidemiology

Symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, Chills, Sweating, Chest pain that comes and goes with breathing, Headache, Muscle pain, Excessive tiredness, vomiting, pain in the belly. Antibiotics are used to treat Haemophilus influenzae infections. Most of the cases need to be hospitalized and monitored closely for treatment and management of complications such as meningitis and pneumonia.

Statistics

Total 347-477 bacterial meningitis cases were reported annually from 2006 to 2010, among which 56-83 were due to H. influenzae. Among the total 400 H. influenzae meningitis cases reported in 2006-2012, 372 cases (93%) were patients younger than 5 years. Because of Hib vaccine, the frequency of H. influenzae meningitis decreased to 49 cases in 2011 and to 14 cases in 2012.